by Tatra Man » Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:38 pm
Hello "Preston",
There was only one clay model originally sculpted by Lawson for the project. It is not known if more than one plaster model was constructed, although only one is known to exist.
As far as the published photographs, they were "photomonoliths". This is the process where you take two objects of different scales and put them together. The model was used for the photos. I do not know if it was the clay or the plaster that was photographed. But the model was definately used. After trimming the model photos around the edge, It was then transposed on some background photos that Lawson had in his files.
The resulting photo collage was then airbrushed so that the model would posess the natural reflections of the background it was placed in. This work was done by an advertising agency in Detroit, not by George Lawson himself. And having studied the model quite a bit, the model and the photo collages are different in shape. I think this is a result of Lawson not doing the final work.
Somewhere I have more professional shots of the model, as well as some amateur ones. A couple of years ago I had the model digitally scanned by a firm in Detroit. The plan was to computer render the model so that people would have a better idea of what it would have looked like. I also wanted to make a few spare models - one for myself, and one for the Tucker Club. It has been a while since I have been in contact with the man who scanned it for me. He has all the data. I need to get with him and try and do this if possible.
If you want me to send you some shots, you will have to email me your address. I don't know how to attach them to the private mail feature.